MAY 2026

NOTE FROM PASTOR MARK
May has been a beautiful month as the weather has warmed, the days have become longer, the farmers market has begun its 9th season, and we now are moving quickly into summer. To see so much life around Neighborhood Church is exciting. As you look at your own summer and how you are going to invest your time, make sure to take a look at all that is happening at Neighborhood Church. I want to especially encourage you to consider volunteering at the farmers market.  https://www.signupgenius.com/go/10C0448ABAC2EA7F4C25-62972780-derwood#/ 

​The farmers market is the primary way to share and show Jesus to our community during the summer. It is not a hard job but it truly is a blessing. If you are simply willing to show up, help a bit,  and are friendly, there are many great conversations that often unfold. Summer is not a time to disengage from your faith but to take it outside and into the neighborhood. My prayer is that this summer would be rich with conversations that naturally talk about Jesus.

MINISTRIES

NEIGHBORHOOD KIDS
Leader: Karin Sauder, [email protected]
A safe place for children to meet Jesus, know Jesus & learn to share Jesus.

First of all, congratulations to Carly and Khalil King and big brother, Jaxson, on the birth of Gianni Michael! We are so excited to welcome our newest Neighborhood Kid, and we can’t wait to meet him! Our parent’s Pizza Party and Meet Up went wonderfully well, with so many of our families coming together to meet each other, and hear about the exciting things happening in Neighborhood Kids and Youth.  We are busy planning even more activities for parents and families in months to come—beginning with a Parent’s Meet Up group hosted by Tim and Linnea Allen starting at the end of this month.  Our kid’s tent at the farmer’s market was staffed this month by the Vannella Family—thank you so much for serving the community! We are looking forward to the next kid’s tent on May 30th, as we celebrate Strawberry Day with themed crafts, tattoos, and treats. In our classes, Neighborhood Kids is all the way up the prophets of Judah on our timeline! Such good things are coming….this is a great time to volunteer! 


NEIGHBORHOOD YOUTH
Leader: Eric Peacock, [email protected]
A place where teens belong, believe (in Jesus) and become (all that God has intended for them to be).

For May, Neighborhood Youth launched our new series, Exams, where we focused on helping students understand that just as they face tests in school, they also face spiritual tests in life that help strengthen their faith and character. Throughout the month, we walked through messages such as “Pop Quiz: Temptation is a Test” and “Endurance Matters,” teaching students how God uses life’s challenges to grow perseverance, maturity, and trust in Him. The series encouraged students to view trials not as obstacles to fear, but as opportunities for spiritual growth and deeper dependence on Christ.

In addition to our weekly teaching, May was also a month of preparation as we finalized plans for our upcoming summer series, “School’s Out!” This series will challenge students to think intentionally about how they use their time and freedom during the summer months. Through topics centered on friendship, serving others, consistency, entertainment, and spiritual thirst, we are preparing to help students stay spiritually engaged and growing throughout the summer season.

As we look ahead into June, we are excited to launch “School’s Out!” and continue creating meaningful opportunities for students to grow in their faith, build community, and stay connected during the summer break.


WORSHIP & PRODUCTION TEAM
Leader: Mel Neely, [email protected]
We are a diverse community of followers of Jesus Christ, empowered by His Spirit with one heart and one mind to invite and lead in declaring His worth.

The Neighborhood Church Worship & Production team also continues to lift high the name of Jesus through our in person and online services.  This May, Mel Neely and Adaora led worship during our Sunday services along with our dedicated team of instrumentalists and vocalists.  

On Thursday evenings the team engaged with devotionals encouraging each other to look full on the wonderful face of Jesus by incorporating devotional times led by Holly, Adaora and Mel.  We shared praises and prayer requests, praying for each other and over Neighborhood Church.  

Mel, Evan, Donna, Richard, Eric and Holly provided music at our Derwood Market kickoff on Saturday, May 2!  It was a beautiful opportunity to Speak Jesus over our neighbors, vendors, volunteers and church family.  

Praise him with the tambourine and dancing; praise him with strings and flutes!
Praise him with a clash of cymbals; praise him with loud clanging cymbals.
Let everything that breathes sing praises to the LORD ! Praise the LORD !
Psalm 150: 4-6

New sanctuary and stage carpet this month meant a new stage layout!   Thank you to the team members who came out to clear the stage and then to the volunteers (many did both!) who came to put it back together again.  

We are thankful to have a truly multigenerational team with middle school, high school and adult volunteers working together to make our Sunday services in person and online possible.  Vance Newsome continues to train with the Production team.  He is currently training on livestream under the direction of Solomon Jack and with Bryan Patton on sound and should be serving solo very soon. We are also grateful to welcome Honna Trinkl back to the sound team as she wraps up her Senior year and to have Landon Neely back from college to run sound and help with the Live Stream.  We are praying for God to bring more workers to serve Him at Neighborhood Church!  We had our Worship & Production team meeting on April 19.  We had a fun lunch together and heard from Pastor Mark on the vision of moving toward a LED screen.  Solomon, Jeff and Bryan also shared team updates. 

BECAUSE of God's faithfulness, our Worship & Production Team is living on mission as a multi-ethnic, multigenerational team being transformed by Jesus, empowered by the Holy Spirit and inviting the Neighborhood Church family to be launched on mission with them!


NEIGHBORHOOD GROUPS
Leader: Pam Homan, Matt Sale & Mark Trinkl, [email protected]
A place for making friends, inviting God's transformation through Scripture and prayer, and being launched on mission together.  

There are five Triads that are meeting from the end of May through the first week of August. A Triad is an intentional relationship with you, Jesus, and two other people as part of the Discipleship Pathway to have holistically healthy (head, heart, hands) disciples of Jesus who multiply disciples and churches at Neighborhood Church. This relationship is not meant to fix your problems, give advice, or diagnose. Triads will be reading and meditating on the book of Philippians in conjunction with the Sunday morning messages.

The summer women's book club starts on May 31. We will be reading the book "Invitation to Retreat." In our last church-wide survey, the practice of silence and solitude ranked the highest as a spiritual practice that people want to grow in over the next six months. This book will guide us through the practice of retreat. We will then offer a women's silent retreat to practice the discipline of silence and solitude. Even if you are not participating in the book club, you can go on the retreat. Please contact Pam Homan, [email protected] or Melanie Neely, [email protected] for more information on the silent retreat.

The small group for parents, God's Character & Parenting, is meeting this summer on Saturdays from 9:30-11:00 a.m. from May 23 - July 11 at Blueberry Hill Park. Join other parents to reflect on God's characteristics and how His posture toward us can directly impact our posture toward our children. Gather every Saturday morning with or without the kids for a casual time of hanging out at Blueberry Hill Park with one another. Throughout the week, we’ll study Bible Project’s “Character of God Word Study” at our own pace & share our thoughts, reflections & questions with one another through a What’s App group. This group is open to parents of children of all ages! Have adult children? Come & share your years of wisdom while also reflecting on God’s character in this season of parenting. This group will also be open to the community through Meet Up.


MISSIONS TEAM
Leader: Natalie, [email protected]
To see the people of Neighborhood Church launched on mission to share and show Jesus from our neighbors to the nations. (Acts 1:8)

- El Salvador Car Wash Fundraiser was a success!
- El Salvador Summer Social Fundraiser coming soon!
- Continuing to invest in our local/global partnerships!

If you would like to be a part of the team, reach out to Natalie. Our hope and prayer is that all of Neighborhood Church would pray, give, go, send.


WELCOME TEAM
Leader:  Contact Rose Ojwiga, [email protected]
We will be a community that is authentic, transparent & creates space for real relationships (Acts 2:42)

A very beautiful month of May. Thanks to all our visitors, church members and those who keep coming back to fellowship with Neighborhood Church. 

LEADERSHIP

STAFF
Melanie Neely, Karin Sauder, Eric Peacock, Natalie, Linnea Allen & Dana Zetterberg. 
Leader: Mark Trinkl, [email protected]

The staff manages Neighborhood Church’s ministry teams. 
This summer looks to be great to connect in many ways for all ages and stages. Make sure to go to neighborhoodc.org and take a look at all that is happening. 


ELDERS
Mark Trinkl, Mark Neely, Solomon Jack, Eric Peacock, Ted Mueller, Eric Zetterberg, Kyle Ott, Tim Allen
Leader: Mark Trinkl, [email protected]
The Elders shepherd and give spiritual oversight to Neighborhood Church.

The Elders continue to meet on the first Saturday of the month for prayer and shepherding the church. Please know, we are here for prayer or other needs. 


BOARD OF GOVERNANCE (BOG)
Mark Trinkl (Chair), Solomon Jack (Vice Chair), Matt Sale (Treasurer), Sarah Luse (Secretary), Pam Homan, Mark Neely, Kyle Ott
The Board of Governance (BOG) sets boundaries for the Pastor.

The BOG will meet on June 8th to review and, if necessary, update our Guiding Principles along with how we address accountability and support. This document is how our leadership is structured in the church. The Board governs, the lead pastor leads, the staff manages, and the congregation does the ministry. The Board will also review finances, continued improvements to the property, and vision for the future. Please be praying for God’s continued wisdom for governance. 

UPCOMING EVENTS

Derwood Farmers Market
Kids Tent: June 20
Worship Team: June 27
June Collection Drive: MCCH

Summer Fun Night
June 16

Youth Pool Party
June 23